WILDEST DREAM ➛ʜ.ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡɪɴ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ

010

The air was heavy, the silence thick and suffocating. Darkness enveloped everything. The only sound was the faint ripple of water beneath her feet, as Madeline stood in the center of what felt like an endless void. The floor was damp, shallow puddles spreading in uneven circles around her boots. She glanced around, her breaths quick and uneven, her voice breaking the eerie stillness.

"Harry? Sirius?" she called out, her voice echoing endlessly into the emptiness.

"George? Fred? Lee? Anybody?" Her tone grew more frantic as each name fell into the void without a response.

Her fingers clenched tightly into fists as she tried one last name. "Draco?"

Still nothing.

"What the heck is this place?" she muttered to herself, shivering slightly as she looked around. Her own voice seemed foreign in this strange, hollow world.

She took a cautious step forward, the water rippling beneath her. Each movement echoed unnaturally, making her feel even more alone. Another step, and then—

The ground gave way.

Madeline screamed, a visceral, gut-wrenching sound as she plummeted into the darkness. The fall seemed endless, her stomach twisting and turning as the weightlessness consumed her. Just when she thought she'd never stop falling—

She jolted awake.

Madeline blinked rapidly, disoriented. Her hands gripped the edge of the bench she was sitting on. She wasn't in the void anymore. She was...

In the Great Hall.

Students surrounded her, filling every seat, their chatter and laughter creating a buzzing symphony of life. The torches lining the walls burned brightly, casting a warm glow across the hall. The benches had been moved aside, leaving the center clear for movement.

Madeline rubbed her eyes, still reeling. How had she gotten here?

She turned to her side. The twins, Fred and George, sat beside her, their faces animated as they joked with Lee. Summer was on her other side, sipping pumpkin juice, her face as serene as ever. Across from her, Ron was staring at her with his mouth slightly open, a thin string of saliva threatening to spill from the corner.

"Ugh," she muttered, grimacing as she turned away from him.

"What's wrong?" Fred asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," she replied, shooting Ron a disgusted look before focusing on the center of the hall.

A loud cheer erupted as Viktor Krum strode up to Dumbledore, his trademark confident smile plastered across his face. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students clapped enthusiastically, joined quickly by the Hogwarts crowd.

Madeline's gaze fell on the Goblet of Fire, glowing with an otherworldly blue flame. The cheers and applause echoed in her ears, but her vision began to blur. The vibrant colors of the hall melted into a hazy fog, shapes and faces dissolving into nothingness.

She squinted, trying to focus. A piece of parchment fluttered before her eyes, the edges glowing faintly as it floated from the Goblet. She tried to read it, to make sense of the words—

Harry Potter?

Her gasp was sharp and audible as she jolted awake once more.

She was back in her dormitory. The early morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting golden stripes across her bed. Madeline sat up, her heart pounding in her chest.

It was a dream.

Her hand flew to her forehead, wiping away the sweat that had gathered there. She glanced around the room, her dormmates still asleep in their beds, breathing softly.

Madeline exhaled deeply, leaning back against the headboard.

What in Merlin's name was that? she thought, staring out the window.

Madeline sat up abruptly, the echo of her dream still vivid in her mind. She swung her legs over the bed, shaking her head as if that could dislodge the unsettling thoughts.

"It's just a dream. Nothing more," she muttered to herself, forcing a calm expression as she grabbed her bag and quickly got ready for the day. She tied her hair into a loose ponytail, threw on her robes, and slung her bag over her shoulder.

As she made her way down to the common room, her mind wandered back to the Goblet of Fire, its ominous glow haunting her thoughts. When she stepped into the room, she saw Harry sitting on the couch, chatting with Ron, Seamus, and Dean.

Without thinking, she walked up to him. "Harry, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?"

Harry turned to her, looking completely confused. "No. Why would I do that?"

Madeline hesitated, her dream flashing vividly in her mind. The parchment, the cheering, the surreal feeling of it all—it was too much. But how could she explain it? Shaking her head, she mumbled, "Nothing. Never mind."

Harry narrowed his eyes, studying her carefully. "Are you okay?" he asked, standing up and gently gripping her arms.

Madeline forced a smile, her heart pounding under his scrutiny. "I'm fine. Really," she assured him, though her voice wavered.

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push further. "Alright," he said, though his tone was uncertain.

They were soon joined by Hermione and Ron, and together, they made their way to class. Madeline walked alongside Hermione, trying to focus on the chatter around her instead of the lingering unease.

Hermione glanced at her, brow furrowed. "What's wrong? You seem...off."

Madeline looked down at her boots, trying to compose herself. "Maybe it's just the cold. You know, it's getting chilly," she said, wrapping her arms around herself for emphasis.

Hermione didn't look convinced, but she let it go with a sigh.

Throughout her classes, the dream clung to her thoughts like a stubborn shadow. During lunch, she finally asked Hermione, "Who put their names in the Goblet of Fire so far?"

Hermione tilted her head, thinking. "Cedric Diggory, Angelina Johnson, Viktor Krum...and a few of the Beauxbatons girls. Why do you ask?"

Madeline shook her head quickly. "Oh, no reason. Just curious," she said, trying to sound casual. She let out a soft chuckle to lighten the mood, but her hands clenched tightly under the table.

As the day wore on, Madeline convinced herself it was just a dream—nothing more. Dreams weren't real, after all. Maybe her mind had simply conjured something bizarre from all the excitement surrounding the Triwizard Tournament.

That evening, the entire school gathered in the Great Hall. The air buzzed with anticipation as everyone waited for the Goblet of Fire to announce the champions.

Madeline sat with Fred and George, Summer across from her, sipping her juice as usual. The twins were their usual chatty selves, cracking jokes and keeping the mood light.

She glanced around the hall, and her stomach dropped. The benches had been moved to the side, leaving the center open—just like in her dream. She swallowed hard, her gaze darting to Summer, who was exactly as she had been in her vision. Then to Ron, whose mouth, unfortunately, had a telltale glint of saliva in the corner.

"Disgusting," she muttered, wrinkling her nose.

Fred turned to her. "What's disgusting?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Madeline blinked, realizing she'd spoken aloud. "Nothing," she said quickly, shaking her head.

Her heart pounded as Dumbledore stepped forward, the Goblet of Fire glowing brilliantly behind him. The hall fell silent as the first name was called.

"Viktor Krum."

The cheers erupted instantly, but Madeline's blood ran cold. Her dream—it was happening. It couldn't be real. It was just a coincidence.

She forced herself to look at Harry, who was clapping along with the others. She tried to focus on his calm expression, but dread pooled in her stomach.

"It's nothing. Just a stupid dream," she whispered to herself, her voice almost lost in the sea of cheers.

But deep down, a part of her wasn't so sure.